Immanuel: God With Us in Our Mistakes and Our Can’ts

I hate to mess up. When I make mistakes I’m more mad at myself than anyone else could possibly be. I’m not sure why I find it so surprising that I’m extremely fallible. After all, I’m “only human.”

The reality of the mistake-prone nature of the human condition remains inescapable. 

But I still hate it.

I cringe when my mess-ups hurt others. I grieve when my flubs cost our family time or money. I want to do the right thing all the time, but I just can’t.

In my Thankfulness Challenge, I worked to thank Jesus for my mistakes. After all, if I thank Him for EVERYTHING then mistakes are included. Thanking Him required not only gratitude but humility, and who enjoys humility?

But expressing thanksgiving acknowledges the constant need and availability of redemption, the most precious of gospel principles. Redemption changes loss to gain, and pain to opportunity. But redemtion requires Jesus.

And Jesus, Immanuel, is with us RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of our most embarrassing moments. 

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. Psalms 37:23-24

What a relief that verse delivers. I might fall flat on my face, but I won’t be cast off. The Lord holds my hand because He never leaves my side.

I Will Never Leave You

Jesus came to earth as a baby to be WITH us. And when He ascended, He promised He’d continue with us always. Always!

He never leaves. He never turns away. 

As the Israelites wandered in the desert He led them day and night.

When three youths were thrown into Babylon’s furnace, He stood among them.

As Stephen was martyred Jesus welcomed him home.

In My Mistakes AND My Can’ts

I find thanking the Lord for my CAN’TS requires even more humility than thanking Him for my mistakes. When I thank Him for my lack of talent or inability to formulate a good habit or insufficient resource, I’m not only agreeing with His provision.

I’m stating He is enough.

But he said to me, "‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."‘Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

I prefer NO weakness. I crave the ability to live up to my dreams. But, in reality, that would doom me. If I could do it on my own, I might forget I NEED Jesus. I need Him to accomplish anything of eternal value.

Immanuel, enters my inabilities and empowers supernatural effects.

My CAN’TS become a showplace for His glory. 

The Answer Lies In The Manger

Jesus covers our mistakes. He inhabits our weaknesses and shows Himself strong. 

Our worst moments can be a stage for His glory to shine. Our inabilities can shout His sufficiency.

As Christmas surrounds us, as the flurry of gift wrapping and cookie baking increases, as the challenges of family arriving or the sorrow of their absence mounts, as the busyness of the season drowns out the message, take a moment. Sit and examine the manger.

What a miracle. 

Our Lord is WITH us.